Colorado Welcome Back. Workshop on Healthcare Careers: Medical Assistant

Transcription

1 Colorado Welcome Back Workshop on Healthcare Careers: Medical Assistant Elzbieta Nolan - enolan@springinstitute.org Amy Jacobson - ajacobson@springinstitute.org Diana Higuera - dhiguera@springinstitute.org Laurence Nolan - lnolan@springinstitute.org Muthanna Jabbar - mjabbar@springinstitute.org CWB Program Office:

2 Colorado Welcome Back Colorado Welcome Back helps foreign trained health care professionals re-establish careers in health care in Colorado and in the United States. Our Services: Initial Contact and Assessment Ongoing Educational Case Management Guidance through Resources and Referrals English Language Training Mentoring and Support Introduction to the US Health Care System Career management support (jobs, interviews, etc.) Job opportunity identification and placement support

3 What can you expect from CWB? Realistic assessment of your options at any point of your health career management Help in setting your professional goals, including the recommended educational path, choosing volunteer positions, developing a strategy to achieve your desired health career position, including the interim steps (i.e. residency for MDs, intermediate employment options, etc.) Assistance in developing an effective health career plan Guidance along the selected pathways Access to educational, volunteer and employment opportunities available exclusively to CWB participants Professional skills development support essential to successfully pursue any and all professional positions

4 Colorado Welcome Back Program CLIENTS (You!) Referral Sources Colorado Welcome Back Essential Services (Education, Training, Career Counseling, etc.) Successful Outcome Program Office Volunteering Opportunities Plans, Tools, Skills, Guidance

5 Colorado Welcome Back Workshops Employment Workshops Workshop on Healthcare Careers: Medical Assistant Workshop on Healthcare Careers: C.N.A. Workshop on Healthcare Careers: Phlebotomist Workshop on Healthcare Careers: Patient Navigator Volunteering in Healthcare Professional Development Workshops Creating a Successful Résumé for Healthcare Careers Healthcare Professional Communication Skills MD Workshops Residency (MD): Application and Résumé Residency (MD): Personal Statement writing Residency (MD): Interviewing Skills

6 Today s Agenda Medical Assistant description and responsibilities Typical job posting Employment Outlook Salary info Is the Medical Assistant occupation for me? Medical Assistant Certification and Registration Successful pathways to becoming a Medical Assistant Medical School graduates Other Next steps

7 MA description and responsibilities High level overview: Medical Assistants often take medical histories and record vital signs of patients Medical Assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice Typical duties Take patient history and measure vital signs Help the physician with patient examinations Give patient injections as directed by the physician Schedule patient appointments Prepare blood for laboratory tests Electronic health records (EHRs) are changing Medical Assistants' jobs. More and more physicians are adopting EHRs, moving all their patient information online. Assistants need to learn the EHR software that their office uses. 7

8 Typical Medical Assistant job posting JOB DESCRIPTION: To provide support for the healthcare providers, office staff and administrator The Medical Assistant works under the clinical direction of the clinic s healthcare providers This position assists with patient examinations and treatments, performs various tests, and maintains medical equipment and supplies. The Medical Assistant also assists in managing patient flow, both in office and via telephone interaction, such that their healthcare provider is enabled to be informed, organized and efficient with patient care. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: High school diploma or equivalent Graduation from an accredited program for Medical Assistants or Medical Assistant Certification 2 years experience required Current Basic Life Support certification 8

9 MA Employment Outlook 9

10 MA Employment Outlook (cont d) The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to spur demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians. As their practices expand, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients. Assistants will likely continue to be used in place of more expensive workers, such as nurses, to reduce costs. In addition, an increasing number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities need support workers, particularly medical assistants, to do both administrative and clinical duties. Medical assistants work mostly in primary care, a steadily growing sector of the healthcare industry. Additional demand also is expected as a result of new and changing tasks for medical assistants as part of the medical team. As more and more physicians practices switch to electronic health records (EHRs), medical assistants job responsibilities will continue to change. Assistants will need to become familiar with EHR computer software, including maintaining EHR security and analyzing electronic data, to improve healthcare information. 10

11 MA Employment Outlook 11

12 Is the Medical Assistant occupation for me? Important Soft and Hard Skills Analytical skills. Medical assistants must be able to understand and follow medical charts and diagnoses. They may be required to code a patient s medical records for billing purposes. Detail oriented. Medical assistants must be precise when taking vital signs or recording patient information. Physicians and insurance companies rely on accurate records. Interpersonal skills. Medical assistants need to be able to discuss patient information with other medical personnel, such as a physician. They often interact with patients who may be in pain or in distress, so they need to be able to act in a calm and professional manner. Technical skills. Medical assistants should be able to use basic clinical instruments so they can take a patient s vital signs, such as heart rate or blood pressure. 12

13 Medical Assistant Certification and Registration Medical Assistant is a non-licensed allied health occupation Medical Assistant training programs most commonly lead to a certificate or a diploma, which take around one year to complete, or an associate's degree, which also takes around one year Those who successfully complete the CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination earn the CMA (AAMA) credential A Medical Assistant may choose another possible credential rather than the CMA (AAMA), and become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) instead Certification for Medical Assistants is voluntary and optional Employers increasingly prefer or even require that the Medical Assistants they hire be certified

14 Medical Assistant Certification and Registration Several organizations offer certification. Some require the assistant to pass an exam, and others require graduation from an accredited program. In most cases, an applicant must be at least 18 years old before applying for certification The American Registry of Medical Assistants (ARMA) is one of many national certifying organizations, which certify/register medical assistants The National Commission for Certifying Agencies, part of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, accredits four certifications for medical assistants: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from the American Medical Technologists National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) from the National Center for Competency Testing Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) from the National Healthcareer Association

15 Successful pathways to becoming a MA If you graduated from a Medical Program (Nurse, MD, etc) and are interested in pursuing Medical Assistant Registration and Certification (ARMA), you can complete the following checklist: ESL level of 7 or higher Résumé completed with CWB University transcripts (translated and authenticated) Copy of Diploma translated (translated and authenticated)) Letter of Recommendation from Physician employer, OR dates of employment from Human resources manager Make an appointment with CWB to apply for Certification Application cost (paid to ARMA) is $65 CWB will assist then you with MA employment preparation and job search 15

16 Successful pathways to becoming a MA (cont d) If you did not graduate from a Medical Program and are interested in pursuing the Medical Assistant profession: Need to apply to a Medical Assistant program Community College is typically a 9-12 month program Typical cost: $4,000-$5,000

17 Next step & Q&A Let s get started on your Checklist 17